Thus far the apple season in the region of Lake Constance has been satisfactory. While the summer apple varieties are picked and the harvest of the apples for storage has started too.
The range of apple varieties is expanding. The lower temperatures in the last few days enhanced the color development of the fruit. Overall, the sales are in balance with the available supplies. There is no pressure and no need to significantly adjust the starting prices.
In the whole of Germany the harvest is expected to increase by 8%, in Northern Germany by 11% and in the South 18%. This will increase the pressure on the trade and prices. However, the loss of crops due to frost in the eastern part of the Alps and Balkans and the expansion of export could create stabilizing opportunities for the market.
During this season 3,800 metric tons of consumption apples have been sold (-31%) in the Lake Constance region. This is partly due to the weather, which delayed the harvest by 2 weeks. The price for consumption apples so far was slightly lower than the previous year, with 55.9 Euros per 100 kg. Currently, the price for consumption apples is 61.3 Euros per 100 kg. In September organic apples went for 145 Euros per 100 kg.
Despite the 18% higher harvest estimate of 261,200 metric tons, the prices at the end of August were clearly at a higher level than the previous year. This was due to the regional differences in the severity of the frost and hail damage. Furthermore, the remaining stock of the past harvest is almost completely sold out.
In the cider fruit trade the apples price is 8.30 Euros per 100 kg. The current price is 8 Euros per 100 kg, which corresponds with gross producer prices of 7.20 per 100 kg. The availability of damaged fruit is larger due to the occurrence of frost and hail.
Nearly 2,300 tons already have been sold, compared to 1,400 tons in the previous year. In Poland a record harvest of 4 million metric tons of apples was recorded, so an increase in the price of fruit for cider is not expected.